37
6-3 , 4-2
3
3-7 , 2-4
6-3 , 4-2
37
3
3-7 , 2-4
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
7 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 37 |
|
|
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Game Recap: Football |
NORFOLK, Va. – James Madison returned to the win column in a big way, owning all three phases of the game en route to a 37-3 win at Old Dominion in Sun Belt Conference football action Saturday afternoon at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
The Dukes improved to 6-3 on the year and 4-2 in Sun Belt play, while the Monarchs fell to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in SBC matchups. Saturday marked JMU’s first win ever in football against ODU in the teams’ third all-time meeting.
JMU also clinched a winning record in their first season competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision while capturing their first Oyster Bowl win in three tries dating back to 1985. Todd Centeio was named MVP of the 72nd annual Oyster Bowl after throwing 18-of-21 for 304 yards and rushing for 17 yards and a score on the ground.
Kris Thornton had a big day in the passing game, making six receptions for 140 yards, which included a pair grabs of at least 40 yards. Percy Agyei-Obese ran for 82 yards and a touchdown, averaging 5.1 per carry, while Kaelon Black combined for 88 total yards, running for 51 and a score and making four catches for 37 yards.
Defensively, Taurus Jones had seven tackles with a tackle for loss, while Jailin Walker made six stops, a pass breakup and a 29-yard pick-six for his second defensive touchdown of the season. JMU had eight tackles for loss and four sacks as a team, which included 1.5 sacks apiece for James Carpenter and Jamare Edwards.
JMU dominated the total-yards category, outgaining ODU by a 492-227 margin. JMU also won the turnover battle, at +2 (2 for JMU, 4 for ODU).
ODU was paced by Hayden Wolff, who threw for 112 yards and two interceptions. No Monarch rusher gained more than 27 yards, as JMU limited the hosts to 78 rushing yards and 2.7 per carry. Jason Henderson made a game-high 18 tackles to set the SBC single-season tackles record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- JMU opened the scoring on its first offensive drive, going 82 yards for a touchdown. Agyei-Obese rushed for 25 yards on five carries, capping off the drive with a one-yard score with 8:11 left in the first.
- Centeio connected on a deep ball to Thornton, setting up a six-yard touchdown rush by the JMU signal caller early in the second to make it 14-0.
- Teams traded field goals late in frame to make it 17-3 at the break.
- After Wise’s second field goal extended the lead to 20-3, Walker picked off Wolff’s pass and returned it 29 yards for his second pick-six of the year.
- Wise connected on his career-best third field goal to close the third, bringing JMU’s lead to 30-3.
- In the fourth and making a return to his nearby home of Virginia Beach, Black capped off the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run with 5:47 to play, which completed a 91-yard scoring drive.
GAME NOTES
- JMU doubled up ODU in first downs, at 22-11.
- The Dukes held a 110-yard advantage in rushing, as it gained 188 a team.
- JMU average 6.7 yards per play, as opposed to ODU’s 4.1.
- JMU was 7-of-13 on third down while limiting Old Dominion to 4-of-13.
- Wise’s third field goal of the game, a 44-yard kick, was a career long for the redshirt junior.
- The defense produced a season-high three interceptions. Joining Walker with picks were Devyn Coles and Jordan White, the first of their respective JMU careers.
- Teams also traded turnovers on one play, as after a JMJ interception, Josh Toner forced a fumble and Agyei-Obese recovered it to give possession back to the Dukes.
- Thornton moved up on a pair of JMU career lists, passing former greats in the process. Thornton moved ahead of Brandon Ravenel (2,250 yards) for fourth in career receiving, as he sits at 2,379 receiving yards. He also surpassed Gary Clark (155 receptions) and moved into a tie for fourth place with David McLeod with 158 career receptions.
UP NEXT
JMU returns home for its penultimate game of the 2022 season on Saturday, Nov. 19 when it hosts Georgia State. Kickoff from Bridgeforth Stadium is set for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
